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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993/03/10 - Workshop Minutes - PC-HPCCITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Adjourned Meeting March 10, 1993 Chairman McNiel called the Adjourned Meeting of the City of Rancho Cucamonga Planning Con~nission to order at 8:50 p.m. The meeting was held in the De Anza Room at the Rancho Cucamonga Civic Center, 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, California. ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS: PRESENT: Suzanne Chitlea, Larry McNiel, John Melcher, Peter Tolstoy, Wendy Vallette ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Brad Buller, City Planners Dan Coleman, Principal Planner~ Dan James, Senior Civil Engineers Scott Murphy, Associate Planner. , , , , , TENTATIVE TRACT 13796 - LEWIS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - A residential subdivision and design review of 111 condominium units on 7.92 acres of land in the Medium Residential designation (8-14 dwelling units per acre) of the Terra Vista Planned Community, located on the south side of Mountain View Drive, east of Milliken Avenue - APN: 227-151-32. Brad Buller, City Planner, provided an opening statement as to the reason the workshop was being conducted. Scott Murphy, Associate Planner, presented the staff report outlining the issues for the Commission's discussion. Clark Butts, Architect, presented slides and photographs of an existing project utilizing the same product type. Con~nissioner Melcher began the Commission comments by stating his opinion on the discussion items. He felt the transition of density between the proposed project and the existing project to the east was adequate. He observed the proposed project was within the density parameters allowed by the zone. He noted a trail was being provided between the two projects. Me felt the 14 multi-family units along the east property boundary was compatible with the 10 single family units. Me believed the trail could be designed within the 15-foot width and he did not want to jeopardize the City with potential pa.yment for park land if additional dedication was required. Me agreed with Commissioner Vallette's comment at the Design Review Conmnittee meeting that focal points were needed at the project entries. He suggested the interior units be revised and the east driveway become the main entry. He suggested that the central open space area would be stronger if building 17 was re- oriented to maintain the open space flow to the south. Commissioner Melcher commented that the slides and photographs provided by the architect sold him on the project because he felt the renderings were weak representations. He stated the one remaining issue he had was the heavy proportions of the dormers, both hip and gable ends, along the drive aisle. Commissioner Vallette reinterated her concerns raised at the Design Review Committee meeting. She felt that the site plan was very cramped and the applicant should consider using 3-story buildings within the western portion of the site. She thought this would help relieve her concerns with the transition between the proposal and the existing single family homes and help open up the site plan. She felt the trail along the east side should be widened to assist the transitions because she did not think the 49-foot separation between the single family and multi-family units is adequate. With respect to the architecture, Ms. Vallette felt that the two-tone stucco color detracts from the building. She suggested that the roof element of the units and the garages be more articulated. She thought the gates at the courtyard entries should be eliminated and the courtyards should be wider. Chairman McNiel opened the hearing for discussion. Jary Cockroft, Lewis Homes, responded to the Commissioners' comments. He noted that the scale of the multi-family units was no different than the two- story single family units. He said there are single-story elements on the multi-family units to break up the mass of the buildings. He commented that the number of units had been minimized along the east boundary and single- story garages have been introduced to provide a transition between the projects. Don Thompson, Lewis Homes, noted that the parcel in question is not a square shape, thereby making a density transition difficult with the infill project. Chairman McNiel commented that the infill situation was created by Lewis Homes' construction of the projects on either side of the proposal. Commissioner Tolstoy stated that the density transition was an awkward situation that will create an awkward solution. He suggested that park land be eliminated to create a wider trail to assist the density transition. He was not concerned about the transition between multi-family projects but felt that greater sensitivity was needed between single-family and multi-family projects. Commissioner Chitlea con~ented that a 20-foot trail would be preferable but not at the expense of the City. Chairman McNiel questioned what was happening within the rear yards of the proposal. Tom Dellaquila, Lewis Homes, stated that nothing was originally proposed$ however, Lewis Homes would be willing to offer a landscape package for the patio areas. Planning Commission Minutes -2- March 10, 1993 Chairman McNiel asked if the wall along the east boundary could be designed using wrought iron with pilasters or a 3-foot solid wall with 3 feet of wrought iron. Mr, Dellaquila explained that wrought iron is used in all areas except along the rear yards of units where a solid wall is proposed. He noted the longest stretch of solid wall is roughly 100 feet. Mr. Cockroft added that the wall will be 6 feet in height. Commissioner Chitiea asked if the trail will be landscaped. Mr. Dellaquila responded in the affirmative. He noted that some changes have occurred with irrigation techniques and plant material since the original trail installations resulting in a better design with low maintenance. Mr. Bullet commented that a majority of the Commission appeared to favor widening the trail provided the City is not in a position of having ~o pay the applicant for the land. Chairman McNiel felt that the building relationship was acceptable but he was still concerned about the development agreement. Commissioner Chitiea suggested that the rear yards/patios be landscaped, including vines on the solid wall. Commissioner Tolstoy expressed concern about property owner maintenance of the landscaping. Mr. Buller agreed with Commissioner Chitlea on landscaping the patio area. He recommended that landscaping be concentrated in the wrought iron areas. He also suggested a standard patio trellis design be created for the project and possibly constructed along the east boundary. After considering the issues surrounding the trail width, a majority of the Commission felt the trail width, as proposed, was acceptable so long as intensified landscaping was provided at wrought iron fence locations, rear yard/patio landscaping was provided for those units along the east boundary, and some variation was provided in the fence/wall placenent to break up the straight line. Mr. Cockroft presented a revised site plan to the Commissioners. Commissioner Melcher felt that the orientation of the buildings was not as good as the original submittal. He thought the central open space still stopped abruptly. Co~nissioner Chitiea felt that turning the unit sideways provided variation and relief to the drive aisle. Commissioner Vallette agreed. Planning Commission Minutes -3- March 10, 1993 A majority of the Commission felt the applicant should consider re-orienting the building. Mr. Cockroft suggested the building might be skewed and the landscaping enhanced. Commissioner Vallette requested that a focal element be provided at the entry. She suggested raised planters might be used. Mr. Dellaquila indicated he would and agreed to provide a sketch for the Commission. Mr. Cockroft noted that stucco trim will be provided on the units and the gates across the entries have been eliminated. He presented revised elevations depicting the changes. Commissioners Chitlea and Vallette agreed the two-tone color scheme should be eliminated. Mr. Cockroft stated that the chimney caps shown may not be used. He said they are working with the manufacturer on an acceptable design. Mr. Buller suggested the garage buildings receive a hip roof instead of a gable roof. The Commissioners agreed. Mr. Murphy recommended the applicant revise the plans and resubmit them for Design Review Committee consideration. , , , , ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brad Bullet Secretary Planning Commission Minutes -4- March 10, 1993